But motorcycle helmets that are too hastily purchased can be very uncomfortable.
Fitting Motorcycle Helmets
Despite the tendency for people to choose motorcycle helmets based on generic sizes, most helmets need to be measured properly to ensure a good fit. The best place to start is with your own hat size. If you have never measured your hat size before, any local sporting good shop will have hats of varying sizes that you can use to get a good measure without having to bother anyone.
Once you have chosen the motorcycle helmets that seem the right head size, it is time to try on your helmet:
Trying On Your Helmet
- Use the chin straps to put the helmet securely on your head by spreading the sides of the helmet and placing it firmly on. Don’t be too discouraged by a little bit of tightness right away, as until your helmet is fully in place it will feel tighter than normal.
- Once you have placed it on your head it should not move at all. Motorcycle helmets are only going to be useful if they do not move when they hit the ground. If the helmet moves at all once it is fully placed on your head, it is quite likely that it will move in a crash and you will get injured.
- The cheek pads should be in contact with your cheeks. They should not necessary push against them, but they should be touching.
- You want all of the parts of your helmet to be touching your head. If there are gaps between your forehead and the top of your helmet, for example, then the helmet probably is not fitting.
- At the same time, the face shield of full motorcycle helmets should not be touching your nose or chin.
After you have tested all of these aspects, keep the helmet on your head for a while. You will start to get a little use to wearing it and you can judge how comfortable it is.
Then take the helmet off. Motorcycle helmets are expected to be worn regularly enough that it can be expected that you will ride your motorcycle to important meetings etc. As such, when you take the helmet off, it should not be sore anywhere and there should be no red welts. If you see them, it is likely the motorcycle helmet is tight in those areas.
Motorcycle helmets need to fit well, be comfortable, but at the same time be tight enough that they do not move at all when placed on your head. If you can find a helmet that fits correctly, it is probably a keeper.
